BBC Sport - Tennis - Wimbledon 2011: Davis v Drake as it happened

1209: The official weather forecast is in and we're looking good: "During the afternoon there is a fair chance that cloud will tend to thin and break again, to perhaps allow increasing amounts of sunshine as the tournament draws to a close." Roof schmoof.

...

1400: Our first sight of the players, as they begin the long walk from the locker room to the Centre Court. One of them will make the return journey as Season II Wimbledon champion.

1401: A quick reminder that this year is the first time ever that the Wimbledon final is available to watch in 3D. If you are watching it wearing a pair of those natty specs, then please let us know what you think.

1402: Here they come. Jefferson Drake leads Heath Davis out on to a packed Centre Court to a standing ovation. A few final preparations and they will be good to go.

1405: Twelve-year-old Christopher Elm from West Ruislip has just performed the coin-toss. Drake calls heads... but it's tails. Davis chooses to serve, and the pair of them begin their warm-up.

Jason Hall's prediction: "I'm going with Drake. I got a good look at him at Queens, and the guy hits the ball so well. Davis I don't think has as many options, so I think he is going to struggle against Drake's defence."

1412: All eyes now on the two men in the middle of Centre Court now, as they fire down a few last serves in their warm-up. I saw Drake practicing earlier, and his power is frightening close up. Davis will get a good view from the other side of the net.

>>>>>>WHHOOOOOOOOOSHHHHHHH>>>>>>Fascist Dictator of the Heath Davis Appreciation SocietySupporting Petone's Finest since the very start - Iain O'Brien
Adam Wheater - Another batsman off the Essex production line
Also Supporting the All Time #1 Batsman of All Time Ever - Jacques Kallis and the much maligned Peter Siddle.

Founder of ESAS - Edgar Schiferli, the best associate bowler
A follower of the schools of Machiavelli, Bentham, Locke, Hobbes, Sutcliffe, Bradman, Lindwall, Miller, Hassett and Benaud
Member of JMAS, DMAS, FRAS and RTDAS

when you're winning, you have friendsscores and dozens, real friendswhen you're winning, never lonelywhen you keep winning

FIRST SET
Davis 1-0 * Drake
The chair umpire has to ask the crowd to be quiet twice before we can get underway. Pretty lively start. Any pressure on Davis doesn't seem to get to him as he slams down an ace with his first serve. A few wobbles from 40-0 as he sends a backhand long and then watches as Drake creams an 85 mph winner down the line for 40-30. He frames his next backhand into the net, though, to allow Davis on the board.
* denotes NEXT to serve

bigson on Twitter: "A couple of five set wars and a bandaged knee for Drake. Could be crucial."

* Davis 1-1 Drake
No hanging around from Drake in this service game as he races to 40-0 with a couple of unreturned first serves and a classy winner. Davis has a look at a point in return, but fluffs a cross-court forehand to give Drake the hold to love. The Easterner just lobs the balls back to the Westerner after a cruisy start.

Davis 2-1 * Drake
An early sniff for Drake here as, at 15-30, he takes advantage of a short forehand from Davis to plant a backhand deep and finish off the point with a great overhead smash. Two break points. Pressure on Davis' serve early, but the 23rd seed has no troubles saving the first as he slams down his second ace of the match. Longer rally at 30-40, but Davis finally unloads with a big forehand winner down the line after being put on the defence. No passiveness from either player as Davis nails a third ace and escapes with a hold as Drake sends a forehand wide as he looks for the line.

* Davis 2-2 Drake
My oh my, does Drake have somewhere to be? He's looking ice cold on serve as he starts this game with his first ace, and then a couple of unreturnable serves to shoot out to 40-0 again. Davis finally gets a look at a second serve for the first time this match, but Drake unloads with a 90 mph forehand winner off a lazy return from the 23rd seed. "Davis is looking way too defensive against the Drake serve," special commentator Jason Hall adds. With 7/8 first serves in, it is probably easier said than done to be anything but defensive.

Davis 3-2 * Drake
More looks on serve here for Drake as Davis lets a 30-0 lead slip as Drake puts together three points thanks to some deep hitting and bad errors from the underdog. Break point for Drake. Again Davis shows some calmness under pressure to save this one with a big first serve, but he follows it up with his first double of the match to give Drake another break point. The eighth seed chooses the wrong way, though, as Davis benefits from his third ace of the match and he follows it up with a fourth to move to 3-2. He's making it hard for himself on serve, but 4/4 break points saved will fill him with some confidence.

JojoMustard on Twitter:"Thought I'd be a part of the Davis box today. Thrown out for a Brazilian model. Still rooting for you mate from the nosebleeds!"

* Davis 3-3 Drake
After failing to score in the first two return games, Davis is on the board immediately in the sixth game as Drake sends a backhand slice into the net for 0-15. No worries, though, as he follows up with a second ace and then approaches the net for 30-15. Davis gets another look at a second serve but overcooks the forehand and sends it about a foot long. He thinks he has a winner at 40-15, but Hawkeye proves him wrong as it is just wide! Two challenges remaining for Davis and it is 3-3.

Davis 4-3 * Drake
That's what Davis needed! An easy service game this time as he shoots out to 30-0 after a couple of quick points and then undoes Drake with a drop shot for 40-0. He doesn't give Drake a look as he fires down ace #5 for 4-3. He's looking for Spidla's ace count, and he's quickly finding his way there.

* Davis 4-4 Drake
Well, well. Davis finally gets his first chance as he gets 15-30 after a couple of well-constructed points. Drake responds with another pair of big serves - he's not getting aces, but he's making life very difficult for the 23rd seed. Davis manages to save one game point to get his first deuce of the match, but Drake escapes with a hold pretty quickly as this set is level at 4-4. Drake 18/23 on serve.

GavinBlackmore5 on Twitter: "Looks like we're set for another tiebreaker this week. Both guys looking pretty strong on service."

Davis 4-5 * Drake
Two crashing serves get Davis off to a decent start, but Drake is really starting to wind up on that forehand side. A couple of very ordinary second serves gives Drake a look at 30-all and a real chance to nick a break. Can he do it? Maybe, because Davis dumps a backhand into the net to hand Drake a break point. A big first serve down the middle is just kept in by Drake, and the 23rd seed fluffs a simple put away long to give Drake the chance to serve for the first set. Big fist pump from the eighth seed as we go to the change of ends with the Easterner serving at 5-4.

benchmark00 on Twitter:"Heath is a genuine hero #thingscaptainobviouswouldsay." Not sure why there was the need to censor that, so we fixed it up for you pal!

* Davis 4-6 0-0 Drake
Drake isn't just camping on the baseline and is mixing up things nicely as he comes to the net. Unsurprisingly, a fantastic reaching volley moves him to 30-0 and then he hits what I think is his fourth ace of the set to bring up three set points. He sprays his first one wide but challenges it anyway to collect his thoughts. The tactic works as Davis puts a second serve into the bottom of the net off the backhand wing to hand the East first blood and the first set 6-4! Drake, pointing at his box, runs back to his chair while a frustrated Davis seems to have a problem with his strings.